Apparatus for forming transfer tails



April 1'4, 1959 B. zulDEMA APPARATUSv FoRFoR'MING- TRANSFER 'mLs Filed Oct. v25, 1957 INVENTOR v BERT ZUIDEMA ATTRNY United States Patent O 2,881,583 APPARATUS FOR FORMING TRANSFER TAILS Bert Zuidema, Arnhem, Netherlands, assignor to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Application October 23, 1957, Serial No. 691,882

Claims priority, application Netherlands November 15, 1956 This invention relates in general to the ring-twisting and winding of yarn into package form and more particularly to an apparatus for producing yarn packages having a transfer tail extending therefrom.

A transfer tail may be defined as the leading portion of yarn first wound onto a tube or other collecting device. In order that the same shall not be buried beneath the yarn subsequently collected, the transfer tail must be wound apart or must extend from the bulk of the package. A transfer tail is essential if it is desired to unwind more than one package of yarn without interruption in the unwinding process. By the use of the tail, the trailing end of a rst package may be tied onto the leading end of yarn collected on a second package, and so on, and thereby provide a continuous supply of yarn over an extended period of time.

It is desired that the yarn contained in the transfer tail receive the same treatment as the yarn collected on the package since the tail portion of yarn also is used in the iinal product. For example, if the package contains twisted, or drawn and twisted, yarn then the tail portion of yarn should also be twisted, or drawn and twisted, as the case may be. It is necessary, therefore, that the yarnbeing processed, as on a ring twister or draw twister, for example, reach a uniform operating condition not only before the same is collected on a take-up tube, but also before the transfer tail is formed.

It is, of course, known to form transfer tails when collecting yarn in package form on a ring twisting machine. An auxiliary surface is usually provided for collecting the initial untwisted or undrawn portion of yarn. In order to provide this auxilliary surface, a winding tube having a length greater than that required for normal package collection, and having a winding surface outside the path of the traversing means generally is utilized.

When the leading portion of yarn is collected on an auxiliary surface such as that mentioned above, the yarn is threaded over a stationary guide provided at the level of the said surface and then onto thetube, after which the twisting spindle is rotated, but at a lower speed than that of normal operation, and the transfer tail is formed. Thereafter, the yarn may be threaded directly from the ring traveler to the winding tube, and package formation may begin. y v

It can be seen that there are many disadvantages to the above-described operation. Winding tubes having greater-than-normal length must be provided and at least one additional guide must be installed at each winding station. Moreover, it is necessary that a special driving system be used in order to wind the transfer tail at reduced speed. Additionally, the use of longer winding tubes obviously necessitates the use of a larger and more voluminous shipping carton, which results in additional shipping costs for the same amount of yarn that could be stored and shipped on smaller tubes.

In order to overcome the foregoing disadvantages, U.S. Patent No. 2,676,762, suggests that an auxiliary winding ring be mounted coaxially with respect to the ICS winding tube. In the operation of this apparatus, yarn is fed through a conventional ring traveler and wound first on the collecting tube. The winding ring is brought up to spindle speed by urging the same into contact with the spindle driving whorl, after which the ring is shifted into the yarn path between the traveler and tube, the ring continuing to rotate in this position due to its momentum. Patentee states that yarn is collected on the ring while the same is maintained in the path of the yarn. After a suitable amount has been collected on the auxiliary ring to insure that uniform operating condition exists throughout the machine, the ring is shifted axially of the tube to inoperative position, whereupon rotation thereof ceases and actual reversal of rotation is effected until the yarn collected on the ring is transferred to the tube. It is evident that the transfer tail not only is back-wound, or wound onto the tube in a direction opposite to that of the package, but also that the free end of yarn extending from beneath the package may become untwisted during subsequent collection.

It has now been found that a more consistently uniform transfer tail may be obtained, while utilizing winding tubes of standard length and the spindle driving means provided ona conventional ring twisting machine, by practice of the present invention, to be described in detail hereinafter.

A primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a transfer tail winding apparatus not having the disadvantages of known devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus of simplified design for producing yarn packages having transfer tails.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for producing a transfer tail on a standard size yarn collecting tube without change in the normal traverse stroke or spindle drive.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary collecting surface or winding ring which will store the leading end of yarn fed to the collecting tube of a ring twisting machine and protect the same during the entire package formation.

The foregoing objects may be accomplished, in accordance with the present invention, if the auxiliary collecting surface is formed on the outer periphery of a winding ring having an eccentric or displaced center of gravity, the said winding ring being freely movable in an axial direction over the collecting tube and through the ring guide of a ring twisting machine to a position beyond or outside the traversing path of the traversing beam, ring guide and traveler. It is preferred, additionally, that means be provided for temporarily coupling the winding ring to the traversing beam whereby movement of the latter will be transmitted to the former in order 'that the collecting surface of the winding ring may be displaced center of gravity thereof and, therefore, eventually is brought substantially to the speed of the tube. In View of the coupling between the winding ring and traversing beam, it can be seen that said ring is shifted axially of the tube in response to operation of the traverse mechanism of the ring twisting machine and is rotated by virtue of contact with the tube. The inner diameter of the ring is designed to permit sliding movement longi- 3 tutlinallyl along the tube while maintaining a frictional driving contacttherewith. It can be seen that the relative position between the winding ring and ring guide remains fixed during operation of the auxiliary collecting surface.

With the device. in the operative position described above, the leading end of yarn is fed through the traveler and looped onto the winding ring, after which collection on the auxiliary: surface commences. The winding ring is maintained in this position, and therefore continues to collect yarn, until the desired yarn quality is obtained. If, for` example, the ringy twisting machine is positioned after a drawing apparatus, yarn is temporarily collected on the winding ring until drawn yarn is delivered from the drawing rollers. When the operator observes that this condition has been reached, the coupling between the traversing beam and the winding ring is disconnected, whereupon the winding ring is shifted, either by virtue of gravitationaleffects thereon or manually, to the inoperative position outside the path of the traversing beam, and yarn. will commence to Wind onto the collecting tube. In normal application of this invention the winding ring will continue to rotate, even in the inoperative position, at the same speed as that of the collecting tube. Consequently, the transfer tail produced when the winding ring is shifted out of the normal traverse path is held secureiy on the auxiliary surface until a complete package is produced by the ring twisting operation. In order to prevent sloughing off of yarn collected on the winding ring, it is preferred that the same be channel-shaped in cross-section, or have anges extending radially outwardly from acylindrical surface.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon study of the following detailed disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: i

Figure l is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating that portion only of a ring twisting machine which is necessary for a complete understanding of the present disclosure, and showing also the modifications necessary in order to practice the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view showing a portion of the ring twisting machine illustrated in Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken along the lines 3'-3, but showing the winding ring of the present invention in operative position, and also illustrating a modied form of winding ring.

With attention now directed to the drawings, a preferred embodiment will be described. That portion of a twisting machine shown in Figure l is illustrated generally by reference numeral 10. This'machine is of conventionaly design, except for the additional structure to be discussed hereinbelow, and comprises a frame 11, a rotatable twisting spindle 12 and a traversing beam 13 which reciprocates along the axis of the twisting spindle. A step bearing 14 is fixed relative to the frame 11 and this bearing rotatably supports the twistingV spindle 12. A whorl 15 is fixed onto the lower end of the twisting spindle and serves as a means for rotating the same. The whorl may bedriven through a belt and motor (not shown), as is known in the art. A tube support 16 is provided on the spindle immediately above the Whorl 15.

A collecting tube 17 is mounted coaxiallyV of the twisting spindle, with the lower end thereof resting on tube support 16, and serves to collect yarn fed through the ring twisting-machine. A ring guide 18 is removably supported' by traversing beam 13 and guide sliding movement of traveler 20,y as is conventional. During operation, the traversing beam 13, ring guide 18 and traveler 20 are reciprocated vertically by known means (not shown), and traveler 20 ispulled around the ring guide by virtue of thev yarn fed therethrough and to the collecting tube.

A--winding ring 21, shown partly in section and partly in elevation in Figure 1, is provided around the base' of collecting` tube 17. The winding ring, which in this instance has been formed from polyamide, comprises a cylindrical portion 22, a first radial ange 23 and a second, slightly larger, radial ange 24. A plurality, three in this instance, of metal pins 25 have been positioned within suitable openings in flanges 23, 24 outside of the cylindrical portion 22, and serve to unbalance the winding ring, or to displace the center of gravity eccentrically of the center of curvature thereof.

One leg of an L-shaped bracket 26 is secured to traversing beam 13 by any suitable means and the other leg of this bracket extends radially outwardly of the ring, as shown in Figure 1,. A latching pin 27 having an annular groove 28 formed therein is attached to the outer end of said other leg and extends downwardly therefrom. A rod 30 is slidably supported from frame 11 by upper and lower brackets 31, 32, respectively, and extends coaxially with respect to the latching pin 27. A stop 33, which is adjustably mounted on rod 30, engages lower bracket 32 and thereby limits movement of said rod in a downward direction.

A vbushing 34 is carried on the upper end of rod 30, said bushing having a flange 35 on the lower end thereof. A fork-like arm 36, havingtwo tines 37 projecting outwardly from turned up extension plate 38, is rotatably mounted on said bushing 34. The times 37 are spaced apart in a direction longitudinallyl or along the axis of twisting spindle 12, as can be seen in Figure 1, in order that the same may straddle or overlie the larger radial ange 24 of winding ring 21. Upon rotation of the arm 36 in a counterclockwise direction about ther pivotal mounting afforded, by bushing 34, to the operative position shown in Figure 3, one tine assumes a position above and the other tine assumes a position below the flange 24, as shown in Figure 1. Upon rotation of this arm in a clockwise direction, the tines assume an inoperative position outside of this ange, as shown in Figure 2.

The fork-like arm 36 is urged resiliently `against the flange 35, of bushing 34 by a resilient washer 40. This washer is fitted over the bushing 34 and held in biasing -condition against the arm 36 by sleeve 41; Said sleeve isV removably secured to the bushing by set screw means 42. First lever 43 is secured to, or may be formed integrally with, sleeve 41` and extends laterally from the upper end thereof. Pivotally supported from this lever is a second, double-armed, lever 44, the latch end 45 of which cooperates with latching pin 27 in order to couple the rod 30 and structure carried thereby to traversing beam 13, as will be explained below. A coil spring 46 is mounted between the ends of levers 43 and 44 and urges, these levers apart. The latch 45 of double-armed lever 44 passes through a cut-away portion or slot 47 in the bushing and sleeve and normally lies within the interior of said bushing in alignment with the latching pin 27 mounted'on L-shapedbracket 26. The outer extremity of latch 45 is rounded, as shown in the drawings, in order that the same may-lit within the annular groove 28 of the latching pin duringoperation.

Operation ofthe foregoing apparatus will next be described. An empty collecting tube 17 is placed on twisting spindle 12 and the spindle drive means is started. The fork-like arm 36 isV rotated from the Figure 2 position to the Figure 3 position, with the tines 37 overlying the large flange 24 of thewinding ring 21. If the winding ring has not already begun to rotate by virtue of frictional contact with the collecting tube, the above-described positioning of the arm 36 may be utilized to urge the ring into contact with thel tube and insure such initial rotation. Oncefrotation of the winding ring is initiated, the same will continue. due to' the unbalanced condition of the ring and the eect of centrifugal force thereon. Thus, a substantially positive, although frictional, coupling between the ringand tube is obtained. With la properdimensioning of the ring, e.g., with the interior diameter thereof only slightly larger than the external diameter of the collecting tube, a suitable drive'coupling may be obtained while at the same time permitting axial movement of the ring relative to the tube Without substantial drag.

After the fork-like larm 36 has been positioned as shown in Figure 3, the second, double-armed, lever 44 is manually urged towards the first lever 43, against the bias of coil spring 46, and these levers, together with rod 30, bushing 34 and arm 36, are raised vertically until the latch 45 lies adjacent to latching pin 27. Upon release of the levers 43, 44, spring 46 causes the latch to enter the annular groove 28 of the latching pin and coupling of the fork-like arm to the traversing beam `13 is completed. Inasmuch as movement of the arm 36 is transmitted to the winding ring 21 through tines 37, it can be seen that the winding ring will follow movement of the beam 13 throughout the traverse stroke so long as the fork-like arm is coupled through the latch means described.

The leading end of yarn fed through the ring twister or draw twisting machine now may be hooked through the traveler and looped around the rotating winding ring 21, whereupon collection of yarn on this ring will begin. As soon as the desired quality of yarn is received by the winding ring, twisted or drawn and twisted, depending on the process in effect, the levers 43, 44 are again urged toward one another in order to release the latch means and the rod 30 is moved vertically downward. The upper tine 37 engages the flange 24 and causes the Winding ring to follow movement of the rod 30. With the winding ring 21 shifted out of the plane of movement of traveler 20, it becomes apparent that the collecting tube 17, rather than the ring 21, will collect yarn subsequently fed through the ring twisting apparatus.

The yarn collected by the ring 21 remains thereon during package formation and the latter portion of this yarn eventually may be used as a transfer tail. It will be apparent that yarn rst collected on the ring will not be of the desired quality, and therefore must be discarded, since the twisting machine had not reached a condition of equilibrium at this stage of the process. On the other hand, yarn collected on the winding ring immediately before the same was shifted out of operative position, under normal circumstances, will be identical to that subsequently collected on tube 17.

On further operation of the twisting apparatus, the winding ring will continue to rotate along with the collecting tube, but outside the normal traverse path of beam 13. The fork-like arm 36 may be rotated clockwise to the Figure 2 position, in order to allow unimpeded rotation of the ring, and the threading up process is com pleted. Upon termination of the'twisting process, or when package formation has been completed, the collecting tube and winding ring are removed from the twisting spindle. The yarn extending between the collecting tube and the winding ring is severed at the desired length and that portion extending from beneath the package on the collecting tube becomes a transfer tail. The winding ring may now be removed from the tube and the waste yarn contained thereon may be cut away, for example, by inserting a knife blade or other sharp instrument between a pair of the metal pins 25. With the yarn stripped therefrom, the winding ring is in condition for a second transfer tail-making operation.

Collecting tubes or bobbins having enlarged portions or flanges at the lower end thereof are occasionally used on ring twisting machines. It is obvious that a one-piece winding ring such as described hereinabove cannot be removed from a tube of this type after the twisting operation, since the wound package blocks one end and the flange blocks the other end. In order to preclude shipping of the winding ring along with the package to the consumer, the ring should be formed in a plurality of parts which are easily connected together. For example,

the ring could be formed in two half-circle sections which are pinned together during operation, as shown in Figure 3, and which may be separated and removed from the tube at the completion of package formation.

The unbalanced condition of the winding ring may be obtained by various expedients. For example, the same could be cast with the anges lon one side thicker than those on the other side, and the weights could be placed in any position within the cylindrical portion 22 of the winding ring. It is preferred, however, that the weights constitute pins and that these pins be mounted outwardly -of and in a plane substantially parallel with that of the cylindrical surface portion of the ring. With the pins mounted in this manner, it will be seen that the yarn collected Aon the ring will not engage the cylindrical portion in the vicinity of the pins and, consequently, cutting and removal of the waste yarn from the ring is facilitated.

It has been found that winding rings formed from polyamides operate very satisfactory in the foregoing process. It is obvious, however, that these rings may be formed from other suitable material, or even from metal. Rings formed from polyamides are, preferred, however, since the internal surface of the same does not damage the collecting tubes even when roughened to insure a more positive frictional contact, which roughening is not generally necessary, however, but may be desired on occasion. It is preferred to form the weights from a metal, since only small quantities of the same are necessary in order to perform the function of displacing the center of gravity of the winding ring.

Since other modifications of the above-described apparatus will become apparent to those skilled in the art, it is intended that the present invention be limited only to the extent set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a ring twisting apparatus having a rotatable twisting spindle, a traversing beam, and a collecting tube mounted on said twisting spindle, the improvement comprising a winding ring having a displaced center of gravity freely rotatably supported by said twisting spindle and means for coupling said winding ring temporarily to said traversing beam.

2. A ring twisting machine comprising a rotatable tube for collecting twisted yarn fed thereto, traversing means reciprocable along the axis of said tube, a ring guide supported by said traversing means, an auxiliary surface shiftable into the plane of said ring guide for collecting the leading end of yarn fed through said machine, said auxiliary surface comprising an unbalanced winding ring freely rotatably supported about said collecting tube, means for shifting said winding ring into the plane of said ring guide and means for temporarily coupling said winding ring to said traversing means.

3. An apparatus for forming a transfer tail from yarn comprising a rotatable twisting spindle, a traversing beam, a ring guide through which yarn is fed, said ring guide being supported by said traversing beam in coaxial relationship with respect to said twisting spindle, a collecting tube mounted on said twisting spindle, a winding ring shiftable into and out of the plane of said ring guide for collecting the leading end of yarn fed therethrough, said winding ring being freely rotatably supported about said collecting tube and having a displaced center of gravity, manually operable means for shifting said winding ring into and out of the plane of said ring guide and a latch for c-oupling said winding ring temporarily to said traversing beam.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said winding ring is formed in a plurality of sections and means are provided for removably securing said sections together.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said winding ring comprises a cylindrical auxiliary collecting surface having a radial flange extending from each end thereof.

6- A1? apparatus as set. forth il; daim- 5. and further comprisinga plurality ofl metallicpins' extending through and between said flanges outside said auxiliary `collecting surface.

7. An apparatus as setj forth in claim 3 wherein said winding ring is provided with a plurality of pins suitably positioned so as to displace the center of gravityv thereof.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said Winding ring is'formed from a polyamide.

9. An apparatus for forming a transfer tail comprising a rotatable twisting spindle, a traversing beam reciprocable along'the axis of said spindle, an unbalanced winding ring disposed about said spindle and shiftable into and out of the traverse path of said beam,`said winding ring having a cylindrical yarn collecting surface and a ange eX- tending radially from one end thereof, a fork-like arm having tines spaced in a direction axially of said spindle, said tines being adapted to overli'e the radial' ange of said winding ring when in operative position, and means for temporarily latching said fork-like arm to said traversing beam with said tines disposed in said operative position.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 and further 3 comprising means supporting said fork-like arm for pi otal vmovement about an axisv parallel to said twisting spindle.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 and further comprising a latching pin having an annular groove formed therein secured to said traversing beam and a latch formed on one end of said fork-like arm, said latch and' the annular groove of said latching pin cooperating to couple said Winding ring to said traversing beam.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said fork-like armv is rotatably mounted on one end of an elongated rod and means are provided for slidably supporting said rod for movement in a direction parallel to the axis of said twisting spindle.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,481,031 McDermott Sept. 6, 1949 2,523,859 Bradish Sept. 26, 1950 2,585,584 Pollock Feb. 12, 1952 2,676,762 Baker Apr. 27, 1954 

